Wildlife Welfare

Wild Hedgehog Bonfire Safety

Bonfire Night creates significant mortality risk for hedgehogs who shelter in wood piles, requiring simple awareness actions to prevent suffering.

Key Facts

Hedgehogs commonly shelter inside bonfire wood piles as suitable hibernation sites
Animals inside unlit bonfires die from burns, smoke inhalation, and collapse of structure when lit
Moving a bonfire to a new site immediately before lighting eliminates this risk
Checking the base of wood piles with a torch before lighting can reveal sheltering animals
Alternative bonfire safety approaches include using purpose-built platforms to prevent ground access

Welfare Considerations

Bonfire mortality in hedgehogs is entirely preventable with simple precautions that take minutes to implement. Public awareness campaigns around Bonfire Night can directly save the lives of individual hedgehogs who would otherwise suffer a slow, painful death.

What You Can Do

Move bonfires to a new site immediately before lighting if built in advance
Check the base of any wood pile with a torch before lighting
Share hedgehog bonfire safety messages with your community around November 5th